The Rebellion ​& The Rise of the Queens

In a remote village somewhere up in the mountains, where the waterfalls water the fertile fields, women rule and men obey. No one has ever questioned the arrangement, until one day the men decide to foment a rebellion and demand equal rights. The women push back and begin a campaign of their own, "The Rise of the Queens," citing nature as their defense: the bees are ruled by a queen, hence women are natural rulers. The men must now prove with a formal debate that they deserve equal rights. Will they succeed?

​“I believe God created men and women to rule together,” said the man with white knuckles and lowered head.“Even nature affirms that women were created to rule alone, or have you ever heard of a king bee?”[1]The man looked up. It was the argument he had anticipated but now that he had heard it, his mind went blank and he couldn’t think of an answer. The man took a step back and almost stumbled over the chair behind him. The young women behind him laughed; one of them asked in a loud voice why God hadn’t given men wombs too if God had created them to rule.[2] The question caused the man to regain his focus. He swallowed hard, and looked the old woman in the eyes.“Nature alone doesn’t decide what we should be.”[3]“But we are part of nature, are we not? Why did God give men superior physical strength if God didn’t intend you to work in the fields?”[4]“I believe we can do both. We can work in the fields and rule.”[5]“No man has ever ruled in this village,” said the old woman emphasizing every word.The man looked around the room. If he could only get some of the women to see his point, he would have a chance.Before the man could ask anyone for support, the old woman called the meeting adjourned and everyone began to leave. The man watched as the women, some carrying infants, left the building. He stared at the empty table in front of him. No man had ever spoken from behind that table. It was the women’s business to run the village; no one listened to the men.

“Are you out of your mind?” screamed Nellie, and threw a book at Joaquin. “How will I show myself in the village after what you did? You have made me look ridiculous in front of all the women! What will you do next? Tell me that you have the right to rule over me too?”Joaquin stood silently before his wife who paced the floor.“Why didn’t you ask for my permission before parading yourself before the Assembly?”[6]“I didn’t think you would give it to me,” said Joaquin quietly. “Of course I wouldn’t! Men don’t address the assembly! Men don’t have the right to speak in public!”[7]“I don’t agree with that.”“I don’t care what you agree with! It’s how our village works! I don’t know who has put these ideas in your head, but you better get rid of them. There will be no more talk of equality in this house!” said Nellie, slamming the door behind her.​Joaquin sat down on the couch and held his head in his hands. He felt deflated. He knew that the Word forbade men from speaking in the Assembly, but something in him resisted the idea.[8] And now his wife would sulk all week as the inevitable gossip would begin. Nothing much happened in the village; a man who dared to address the Assembly would give everyone plenty to talk about. If only he could prove what he knew to be true, it would change everything.

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[1] Aristotle, among other Classical writers, believed the bees were ruled by a king.

[2] Penis envy (the belief that the lack of a penis causes an unresolved conflict in a woman leading to an underdeveloped superego that makes women morally inferior to men) is one of Sigmund Freud’s most enduring legacy.